Post on 19-Nov-2019
After the oil spill tragedy in 2006, the Provincial Government of Guimaras endeavoured to
employ a holistic and integrative approach in addressing environmental issues and concerns in
the entire island ecosystem of the province. This led the province to adopt Integrated Coastal
Management (ICM) and became the third ICM parallel site in the Philippines under Partnerships
in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) and later became a member
of the PEMSEA Network of Local Government (PNLG).
To address inter-linkages issues of coastal and marine areas with that of the up-lands, ICM implements a ridge-to-reef approach which follows the policy framework for sustainable development of coastal areas that is aligned with international standards (ISO 9001- Quality Management System, and ISO 14001- Environmental Management System. This ICM policy framework aims to strengthen governance and to address aspects of sustainable development related to natural and human-induced hazards management, habitat protection restoration and management, water use and supply management, food security and livelihood management, and pollution reduction and waste management while maintaining the functional integrity of ecosystems in the entire province of Guimaras. ICM Framework likewise aligned to the Priority Development Agenda of the province that is to ensure ecological integrity and environmental protection; disaster preparedness; and tourism attraction in terms of restoring, protecting and promoting heritage, archaeological and ecological sites by strictly adhering to the established carrying capacity and approved management plans of identified tourism sites/destinations, and
providing support infrastructure and facilities which are nature respecting and compliant to existing environmental, cultural heritage and other related policies. The PLGU established Program Coordinating Committee (PCC) which provides policy direction and guidance for the development and implementation of the ICM program while the Scientific Advisory Group provides scientific advice and technical support in program implementation. The PMO serves as the Secretariat of the PCC and oversees the day-to-day operation of the ICM program. The creation of the Guimaras ICM Project Management Office (PMO) enabled close coordination and collaboration with line government agencies at the national and local levels, and other relevant stakeholders regarding projects/activities for the province’s marine and coastal resources management and development. In the ten years of operation of PCC, the province has implemented various interventions addressing issues and concerns on coastal and marine resources including the allocation of staff and budget for its ICM implementation, and aligning the action programs and initiatives of different sectors towards the attainment of the environment goals and objectives of the province. All of which are highlighted in the Guimaras State of Coasts Report. The State of the Coasts reporting allows monitoring and reporting of the performance of the ICM system to ensure that goals and targets are achieved.
NATURAL AND HUMAN-INDUCED HAZARD PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT
The institutional mechanisms for disaster preparedness and
management and coordination at the provincial and municipal
levels are in place. Multi-hazard maps indicating the locations of
hazard-prone barangays have been prepared and the
formulation of the provincial and municipal disaster risk
reduction and management plans and emergency response
plans took into consideration these information, including the
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Framework
of Guimaras Province, which was developed with Korea
International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) support.
The project aims to plant nipa palm seedlings along river embankments to protect the river
from further soil erosion, protect the lives of the people living in the nearby river and provide
alternative source of livelihood to the local residents.
Sibunag River had been identified as the site for establishment of Riverbank Stabilization
Project last 2015 considering it is one of the major river basins in the province. A number of
12,200 nipa palm seedlings were planted by 20 co-operators along the riverbanks and as per
monitoring had 100 % survival rate.
February 2018, the MSY Rainbow Warrior, the most environmentally-friendly Greenpeace ship,
is having a tour in the country for the “Balangaw: Climate Justice Ship Tour” to celebrate
solutions that demonstrate climate resilience and resistance – through reclaiming our rights,
renewable energy, ecological agriculture, oceans, and forest protection.
To recognize the efforts of the Province of Guimaras and the Municipality of San Lorenzo, the
Climate Reality Project and Greenpeace awarded the LGUs the Seal of Climate Leadership which
recognizes local government units that catalyze a global solution to the climate crisis by making
urgent action by embracing renewable energy and commit to promote climate justice,
ecological integrity and sustainable development.
HABITAT PROTECTION, RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT
In line with SDG 14, the Support to MPAs Project is the initiative of the PLGU to scale up the
protection and conservation of coastal ecosystems where through this Project the area of
municipal waters being protected increased from 2,486.23 hectares in 2015 to 2, 671.73
hectares in 2018. The project aims to provide financial (fund transfer for the procurement of
patrol boats and improvement of management facilities like footbridge, guardhouse and
information center) and technical support (delineation of MPA boundaries, marine bio-physical
assessment, formulation of Management Plans, etc.) for the operation of the MPAs. The
increase in the area of municipal waters protected also increases the coastal ecosystems
rehabilitated.
Protection and conservation of natural ecosystems were also identified as an effective scheme
to enhance resiliency in mitigating effects of global warming. Since these natural ecosystems
acts as natural carbon sinks, initiatives under the Support to MPAs Project, Support to
Municipal Nurseries and Provincial Tree Park Development and Nursery Management is the
rehabilitation of these ecosystems through coral gardening, mangrove and upland reforestation
with the hope to help stabilize greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere in response to
SDG 13.
The Provincial Government thru Guimaras Environment and Natural Resources Office is
maintaining a 21 hectare Provincial Tree Park with Plant Nursery located at So. Balading, Bgry.
Sta. Teresa, Jordan. Five (5) job hired personnel were assigned to do various activities in the
area. These job-hired personnel are propagating assorted forest and fruit seedlings in support
to reforestation activities. In order to protect the tree park from grass fire during summer, a
4x200 meter-fireline was established and maintained. Likewise, a working cottage was also
established as a place for bagging of soil and as shelter for workers throughout the day. Regular
foot patrol works were also undertaken to monitor and protect the area for illegal cutting
activities and encroachment of illegal settlers.
This 2019, the GENRO in collaboration with DENR-PENRO will conduct a zoning and an
inventory of flora and fauna in the area in preparation for the drafting of the Management Plan
for the Provincial Tree Park.
Inventory and assessment of natural habitats like marine bio-physical assessment (mangrove,
seagrass, coral, fish visual census), have been regularly done by the Guimaras Environment and
Natural Resources with the assistance by other project partners in order to monitor and fully
understand factors that are influencing the health and biological integrity of the coastal and
marine ecosystem. An inventory and geo-tagging of falls, caves and sinkholes has also been
started last 2017 to determine potential eco-tourism sites and natural heritage sites.
WATER USE AND SUPPLY MANAGEMENT
Water scarcity is experienced in some areas in the province especially during dry season. After
the El Niño Phenomenon that happened last quarter of 2015. 1st Guimaras Water Summit was
held on March 3, 2016 to discuss issues on water supply and management in the province and
learn best practices on water conservation and management from invited resource speakers.
Topics discussed were forest & watersheds status, watershed management, water sanitation,
water for agricultural use, water crisis act/water code, best practices water conservation, water
conservation tips in tourism by the resource speakers from Manila Water, PENRO-DENR-
Guimaras, MIWD-Iloilo City, DOH-R6, Bureau of Soils, Buenavista & Jordan Water Districts and
DOT-R6.
In accordance to Provincial Ordinance No. 8, Series of 2014, a tree planting activity will be held
every June 19 in the observance of Arboy Day Celebration. This activity aims to increase forest
cover in the province which in return helps reduce soil erosion and increase natural water
recycling efficiency.
On-going profiling of watersheds and rivers is conducted in collaboration with DENR-PENRO in
order to collect information needed in identification design, development, evaluation and
selection of watershed and river system management activities. The approved Forest Land Use
Plan (FLUP) of Guimaras is also a vital tool in harmonizing and meeting the usually competing
demands for land and water resources.
FOOD SECURITY AND LIVELIHOOD MANAGEMENT
The Agroforestry Development Project is one of the projects under the Integrated Coastal
Management Program aimed to: increase farm productivity; uplift the socio-economic
conditions of the marginal farmers and promote proper land use technology. The project was
established in the 5 municipalities of the province namely: Brgy. Millan, Sibunag, Lanipe, Nueva
Valencia, Brgy. Alaguisoc, Jordan, Brgy. Igcawayan, San Lorenzo, and Brgy. Dagsaan, Buenavista
with a total area of 11.4 hectares.
Site Selection and Beneficiary Assessment was conducted to determine feasible co-operator.
The evaluation team was composed of the personnel from GENRO, POAS & Municipal
Agriculture Office guided with sets of criteria having followed.
A Memorandum of Agreement was made and entered into by and among the Provincial
Government represented by the Honorable Governor, Municipal Government represented by
the Honorable Mayor and the Cooperator specifying their roles and obligations as to the project
implementation.
The co-operator were provided with farm inputs such as seeds, assorted seedlings/planting
materials, fertilizers, farm animals (livestock & poultry) and materials for barn and poultry
construction. Likewise, technical assistance was provided to the co-operator through
information dissemination, farm visits or hands on activities, advises and/or nature of
assistance needed. Likewise, regular monitoring was conducted to determine the growth
performance of seedlings planted (fruit/forest trees) and livestock and poultry raised at the
Agroforestry farm.
Fisheries management plans at the local level are usually mainstreamed into the Coastal
Resource Management/Coastal and Fisheries Resource Management plans of local
governments, where majority of the programs and activities is focused on reducing fishing
pressures, habitat rehabilitation and protection, through the establishment of marine protected
areas, fish sanctuaries and reserves. The Coastal Resource Management/Coastal and Fisheries
Resource Management plans also included livelihood development for the fisher families and
POs as well as training and capacity development. These programs were simultaneously
conducted each year with technical and funding assistance from various partners, such as BFAR,
DENR, JBLFMU and PRDP.
POLLUTION REDUCTION AND WASTE MANAGEMENT
To achieve solid waste management objectives, and in particular, afford a practical mechanism
to access and exploit opportunities not otherwise available to them individually, the 5 MLGUs
with the PGLU agreed to form themselves into a cluster for the establishment of a common
disposal facility.
The Province of Guimaras has strengthened the enforcement of Provincial Ordinance No. 05,
Series of 2014, otherwise known as the “Anti-Plastic Ordinance” as one of the strategies to
reduce residual waste and littering. For the period of January – October 2018, there were 58
persons penalized with 23,000.00 amount of fines collected. Out of 15 cases filed, 7 were
sentenced guilty, 5 were withdrawn/dismiss, 2 to be scheduled for hearing and 1 has a warrant
of arrest.
Clean-up is a regular conducted by the province in close coordination with MLGUs to raise
awareness on proper waste management.
To support this activity, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution No. 173, Series of 1996 was
enacted declaring October 25 as Coastal Clean-up day.
The DENR-EMB through a Memorandum of Agreement with the Provincial Government of
Guimaras conducts provincewide coastal water quality monitoring at fourteen (14) sampling
stations located along the Iloilo and Guimaras Strait. Six (6) sampling stations are located in
Iloilo Strait while 8 sampling stations are located in the Guimaras Strait (Figure 3). The
monitoring activities are conducted on a quarterly basis. The parameters measured in the
monitoring include physico-chemical (dissolved oxygen, pH and temperature), bacteriological
and oil and grease. The coastal water quality monitoring program has generated time series
data that would be useful in determining spatial and temporal changes in priority parameters.
Figure 1. Guimaras Province Coastal Water Quality Monitoring Stations
The implementation of ICM Program had provided
opportunities for the province to be recognized by
international communities especially in the East Asia
region. Through active participation of the MLGUs,
Academes, NGAs, POs, and other stakeholders, last
2015, the Province of Guimaras has been given an ICM
Code Level I recognition. ICM Code Level I recognition
proves that key aspects of governance are in place and
operational. Now the Province of Guimaras aims for the
Level 2 recognition, which will cover measurable
progress with regard to the development and
implementation of management
interventions/programs, which result in environmental
stress reduction in the coastal and marine areas.